December 19, 2006 - 15:47 AMT
Iran-Armenia Gas Pipeline to Function on March 2007
The terms of launching the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline are postponed because of technical problems, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the launching of the gas pipeline was planned on December 26. In fact, the pipeline is already ready, but the test works have not been carried out yet. The Iranian side intends to do that at the earliest possible date, and already till the Iranian New Year holidays - till March of 2007, the pipeline will be put into operation," Oskanian said.

He also mentioned that the issue of exploration in the Armenian side of the pipeline is in the process of discussion. In his words, the handover of pipeline's management to "ArmRosGazprom" would be the most logical solution. "Iran is interested in all programs in the sphere of gasification and via negotiations an acceptable solution to this problem will be found," said the RA FM.